EP3368414A1

EP3368414A1 - Method for loading and/or unloading a transport device at a receiving container

Info

Publication number: EP3368414A1
Application number: EP16788070.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Matthäus Pruski; Felix VORWERK; Christoph DAUTZ
Original assignee: Deutsche Post AG
Current assignee: Deutsche Post AG
Priority date: 2015-10-29
Filing date: 2016-10-25
Publication date: 2018-09-05
Anticipated expiration: 2036-10-25
Also published as: US20180362187A1; DE102015119544A1; US10737804B2; EP3368414B1; CN108473202B; WO2017072101A1; DE102015119544B4; CN108473202A

Abstract

The invention relates to a method by means of which an unmanned transport device (3) docked on a receiving container (1) is loaded with a payload container (7) for a consignment (4), having a loading device (8) for loading the transport device (3) with the payload container (7), wherein the payload container (7) has a bearing means (9) at its first end (8a), the transport device (3) has a loading opening (6) on its underside (5) for receiving the payload container (7), and the loading opening (6), at its front end (19), has a mating contour (20) corresponding to the bearing means (9), and the method has the following steps: the payload container (7), arranged on the loading device (8), is pivoted in relation to the horizontal by the loading device (8) such that the first end (8a) is elevated in relation to a second, opposite end (14) of the payload container (7), the loading device (8) is raised until the payload container (7) ends up at least with its first end (8a) located within and/or beneath the loading opening (6), and the payload container (7) is pivoted by the loading device into the horizontal for introduction into the loading opening (6) such that, first of all, the bearing means (9) comes into engagement with the mating contour (20) and, subsequently, the second end (14) of the payload container (7) comes into engagement with a rear end (22) of the loading opening (6).

Description

Method for loading and / or unloading a transport device

on a receptacle

The invention relates to a method for loading a landed on a receptacle unmanned transport device with a payload container for a consignment and with a loading device for loading the transport device with the payload container. In addition, the invention relates to a method for unloading the landed on the receptacle unmanned transport device and the receptacle. As a result of increasing freight traffic through piece and groupage goods transports, truck or container transports, sea or air freight package transports in the context of e-commerce and online mail order offerings, the number of transported goods, and in particular parcel shipments and consignments, has increased significantly. Although it is nowadays possible for an order to be made on-line independently of conventional shop opening times, the delivery of the order as a consignment to the recipient takes place almost exclusively by means of classic delivery methods, for example by mail carriers or in the case of parcels by motorized delivery vehicles, and in Essentially only within the shop opening hours. If the recipient is not present at the time of delivery, for example because he is working as an employed person within the store opening hours, he will either try to deliver the item one more time or the item will be deposited in a branch of the delivery company for collection by the recipient. Although it has been possible for some time to deposit shipments at a collection point, for example in a DHL packing station, such collection points are not yet available on a full-coverage basis and are therefore not always an alternative.

Attempts have therefore recently been made to deliver consignments to the consignee or collection point by unmanned transport means, such as an unmanned aerial vehicle, also called a parcel copter or a drone. In these experiments, a receptacle for receiving the shipment is regularly used, to which the transport device can bring the shipment or from which the transport device can pick up the shipment. After the shipment has been delivered by the transport device to the receptacle, which For example, in the front yard of a house of the recipient is set up or is provided for a municipality for a plurality of recipients, the shipment can also be taken outside the store opening times the receptacle. In the aforementioned experiments, the actual transfer of the shipment from the unmanned transport device to the receptacle has proven to be particularly difficult. For example, a "throwing" of the shipment from the transport device to the receptacle is not possible in order not to damage fragile items.

Based on this situation, it is an object of the present invention to securely transfer a shipment between an unmanned transporting device and a receiving container. The object of the invention is solved by the features of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are specified in the subclaims.

Accordingly, the object is achieved by a method for loading a landed on a receptacle unmanned transport device with a payload container for a shipment, with a loading device for loading the transport device with the payload container, the payload container having at its first end a support, the transport device on her Underside has a loading opening for receiving the payload container, and the loading opening at its front end has a counter-contour corresponding to the support, and the method comprises the steps:

Pivoting of the payload container arranged on the loading device relative to the horizontal through the loading device such that the first end is raised relative to a second, opposite end of the payload container,

Lifting the loading device until the payload container comes to lie at least with its first end inside and / or below the loading opening, and

Pivoting the payload container through the loading device in the horizontal for insertion into the loading opening such that initially the support passes in particular touching engagement with the mating contour and then the second end of the Payload container passes in particular touching engagement with a rear end of the loading opening.

An essential point of the invention lies in the payload container in which the consignment is transferred by the loading device from the receptacle to the transport device. The transfer of the payload container is carried out by a non-linear movement, namely first by lifting the mounted on the charger payload container towards the transport device until at least this comes to lie with its first end inside or below the transport device. Then the charging device begins to pivot the payload container in the horizontal. As a result of the pivoting movement, the support is first of all introduced into the mating contour and thus reaches, in particular, touching engagement with the mating contour, so that the first end of the payload container is secured against falling out of the transport device. After the payload container has been completely pivoted into the horizontal by means of the loading device, the second end of the payload container is in contact, in particular, touching the rear end of the loading opening. The payload container is now fully inserted into the loading opening, so that the transport device can leave the receptacle in the direction of a destination. Experimentally, the proposed method has proven to be particularly reliable in order to be able to transfer even fragile shipments between the receptacle and the transport device.

The unmanned transport device is preferably configured as an aircraft, as an unmanned aerial vehicle, in English as an unmanned, uninhabited or unpiloted aerial vehicle, abbreviated UAV, as a parcel copter or as a drone. Possible manifestations of the transport device can be helicopters, multicopters, quadrocopters or tiltwing, to name but a few possibilities. The transport device and / or the receptacle preferably have mechanical and / or information technology devices which enable the transport device and / or the receptacle to carry out the method, in particular for the automatic and / or autonomous execution of the method. The transport device and / or the receptacle may have a microprocessor, a control device and / or a programmable logic controller, which can be equipped with a software program for the execution of tion of the method steps and / or via communication devices for wired and / or wireless communication between the transport device and the receptacle have. The consignment is, for example, a mail item, a parcel, a registered letter, a letter or other transportable good. The proposed steps are preferably carried out in the stated order, but it is also possible for the lifting of the charging device to take place first and then pivoting of the payload container relative to the horizontal, or for the steps to be carried out at the same time. The payload container preferably has at its first end two mutually spaced supports, while correspondingly two counter contours are provided at the loading opening. The loading opening preferably extends into the interior of the transport device in such a way that the payload container which is completely inserted into the loading opening completely fills the loading opening and / or rests positively in or on the loading opening. In the case of an oval-shaped and / or rectangular-shaped payload container extending in plan view, the support is preferably arranged on the first transverse side, so that when the loading device is raised and / or pivoted, the payload container is first introduced into the loading opening with its first transverse side. Likewise, it may be possible that the payload container is lifted by the loading device to below the loading opening and the subsequent pivoting of the payload container in the horizontal movement in the vertical direction upward into the loading opening and / or tilting of the payload container comprises.

According to a preferred development, the method comprises, after insertion of the payload container into the loading opening, the step of locking the second end of the payload container with the transport device by the loading device, wherein the locking is effected in particular by turning a locking device arranged at the second end of the payload container, and / or after the insertion of the payload container into the loading opening, the step of lowering the loading device until the loading device is arranged inside the receiving container. After locking the payload container this is held at the first end by the engaging in the mating contour supports and secured at its second end by means of the locked locking device against falling out of the loading opening. The locking mechanism Device preferably has a rotary body which is insertable for locking from the payload container by means of a rotary movement in the transport device. For positionally accurate alignment of the locking device with respect to the transport device is preferably provided at the second end of the payload container in the payload opening a guide which engages in the pivoting movement in the horizontal in a Längsspant or the like of the transport device and thus causes a guide. By lowering the charging device and possibly subsequent closing of a hatch of the receptacle, the charging device is protected within the receptacle against contamination by external influences. At a top of the payload container, a latching hook may be arranged, which engages by the pivoting movement in a further Längsspant or the like of the transport device. Preferably, two spaced latching hooks are provided, which engage in the same further Längsspant. The latching hook is preferably arranged centrally along the longitudinal extent of the payload container at this.

According to a particularly preferred development of the payload container and / or the loading opening is designed such that during pivoting in the horizontal and / or horizontal at least the first end of the payload container rests positively on at least the front end of the loading opening. When inserting the payload container in the loading opening of the payload container pivots relative to the transport device via a rotation axis in the loading opening. The axis of rotation is created automatically by bringing the payload container to the loading opening by means of the aforementioned positive connection. When unloading the payload container from the transport device described below, the axis of rotation dissolves independently again. Due to the weight of the payload container dissolves the support during unloading in an analogous manner from the mating contour.

According to a preferred embodiment, the loading device corresponding to the first end and / or to the second end of the payload container on a mandrel, the transport device at the front end and / or at the rear end corresponding to the respective mandrel bush, and takes place the lifting of the charging device such until the mandrel engages in particular contacting in the socket. Preferably, three or four spikes or bushings are provided, for example one or two spaced from each other at the front end and / or one or two at the rear end, in particular a front and two rear. By thorns or sockets is ensured in an advantageous manner that the lifting of the loader with payload container arranged thereon is accurate position, namely to 5 that the mandrel engages in particular touching in the socket, so that then the pivoting of the payload container in the loading opening also made accurate position can. Furthermore, such tolerances between the charging device and the transport device are compensated, which can change after each flight or landing with time. It therefore makes sense first to lift the transport device, for example, a few o millimeters and only then perform the loading and unloading.

For electrical contacting payload container and transport device, the payload container according to a preferred development at its first end such a first connector and the charging opening at its front end to a dem5 first connector correspondingly arranged second connector that by pivoting the payload container in the horizontal the plugs are connected together. For the design of the plug there are basically different possibilities, but where preferably a fourteen-pole socket and, on the other hand, a twenty-pin socket and correspondingly within the o charging opening a fourteen-pole plug and a twenty-pin plug are arranged on the payload container.

Experimentally, it has turned out to be particularly advantageous according to yet another embodiment, when the second plug is mounted floating on the loading opening, 5 that the second plug is arranged in the insertion direction rigid and orthogonal to the insertion direction elastic. If the first connector is rigidly arranged on the payload container, for example screwed to this, can be compensated due to the elastic support during pivoting of the payload container in the horizontal tolerances in the horizontal and vertical direction between the connectors in an advantageous manner when Verbind0 the plug.

In this context, it has proved to be particularly advantageous if, according to a preferred embodiment of the first connector, a pin plate designed in such a way and the second plug has a pin receptacle designed in such a way that by pivoting the payload container into the horizontal of the pin is guided by the pin receiving such that initially reduces a tolerance between the connectors and then a positionally accurate alignment of the plug is done to each other. The pin plate having the pin can be glued on above the first plug. The pin receptacle is preferably carried out in the manner of a supernatant and has a narrowing slot in the center, introduced into the pivoting of the payload container, the pin and "accurately trapped" by the constriction and then guided to the horizontal, resulting in the verbin Experimentally, it has proven to be advantageous if the second plug is slightly offset from the horizontal, for example by 5 °, towards the bottom, thereby connecting the plug to the pivoting movement of the payload container If the term "above", "below" or the like is used in the context of the invention, this always means the position of the relevant feature in operation and in particular in the case of a transport device landed on the receiving container.

The object of the invention is also achieved by a method for unloading an unmanned transport device having a payload container for a shipment landed on a receiving container, with a loading device for unloading the payload container from the transport device, the payload container having a support at its first end, the transport device has on its underside a loading opening in which the payload container is arranged, and the loading opening has at its front end a corresponding counter contour to the support, in which the support engages in particular touching, and the method comprises the steps:

Lifting the loading device until the loading device comes to rest in a particularly touching manner below the loading opening on the payload container,

Unlocking the payload container at a second, opposite end thereof,

Pivoting of the payload container relative to the horizontal by the loading device such that the second end is lowered relative to the first end of the payload container until the support no longer engages in the mating contour, Lowering of the payload container relative to the transport device by the charging device, and / or

Pivoting the payload container in the horizontal by the charging device.

As with the loading method described above, the proposed method for unloading the payload container from the transport means does not involve purely linear movement of the payload container, but rather pivoting of the payload container from the horizontal and subsequent lowering of the payload container for unloading the payload container the transport device in the receptacle in. Experiments have shown that by the proposed method for loading and unloading payload container can be handed over in a particularly secure and reliable manner between the transport device and the receptacle.

In principle, various possibilities exist as to how the loading device for pivoting the payload container and for locking or unlocking the payload container on the transport device can be designed. According to a particularly preferred development, it is provided that the loading device has a tilt cylinder for pivoting the payload container and / or an actuator for unlocking and / or locking the payload container on and / or from the transport device. The tilting cylinder is preferably integrated in the loading device, which in a further preferred manner has a receptacle for receiving the payload container, in particular in a form-locking manner. The receptacle is preferably pivoted by the tilt cylinder from the horizontal and back into the horizontal. The actuator preferably comprises a motorized tool, which can be moved in the vertical direction to the payload container for unlocking or locking the locking device.

According to another preferred development, the method comprises the steps of removing and / or parking the payload container from and / or in a storage position and / or a loading module by the loading device, opening and / or closing a hatch on a landing platform of the receiving container for landing Transport device to the receptacle, and / or positionally accurate fixing of the landed manned transport device to the receptacle, in particular by a longitudinal and / or transverse guide. Preferably, the receptacle on a plurality of storage positions in which empty payload container or already filled with a shipment payload container can be stored. The storage positions are preferably arranged protected inside the receptacle against the weather. The loading device is preferably further developed to park the payload container in the storage position and / or to remove it from the storage position for loading the transport device. The loading module is preferably designed such that an operator can load a shipment into the payload container.

For example, a door opening may be provided on the receptacle through which the operator can insert the item into the payload container held in the receptacle. A photocell can be used to check whether the consignment has been inserted in the payload container in the correct manner. In addition, a balance may be provided by means of which it is possible to check whether the item has exceeded a maximum permissible weight of the payload container. Likewise, an inspection for inadmissible content such as explosive etc. may be performed by means of an X-ray machine or the like. After the payload container is loaded and / or unloaded at the loading module, the loading device can load the payload container on the one hand in the storage position intermediate storage or a landed on the receptacle transport device with the payload container. In a further embodiment, consignment is conveyed via a transport system to a corresponding payload container. In addition, the barcode of the shipment can be scanned and then automatically take an assignment to a payload container. Likewise, a warehouse management system can be provided, which in turn tells the transport device to which packing station is to be flown. Finally, it may also be possible that after unloading the payload container an SMS is sent to the recipient of the shipment.

The hatch is preferably provided in a roof of the receptacle and opens automatically when the transport device is approaching the receptacle. For example, the receptacle may comprise a dome designed as a hatch, which opens to land the transport device. After the transport device has landed on the receiving container, the hatch can close. ßen and open again after loading, so that the transport device can leave the receptacle on the fly. After leaving the transport device, the hatch preferably closes, so that the landing platform, the charging device and / or the interior of the payload container is protected against weather influences such as rain, wind or snow. The hatch opens preferably at a 180 ° angle, so that no air currents on the landing platform arise.

The longitudinal and / or transverse guide is preferably configured to fix the landed transport device in exact position over the loading device. If, for example, the transport device has landed on a landing platform with a diameter of 3 m, the longitudinal and / or transverse guide displaces the transport device from the landing point to an opening through which the loading device accomplishes the loading and / or unloading of the payload container , In order to rotate the transport device in the wind direction before it leaves the receiving container, the actuator or the landing device is preferably designed to be rotatable through 360 °. The longitudinal and / or transverse guide preferably fixes the transport device immediately after landing. The fixing takes place depending on the landing position of the transport device preferably at least at one end of the runner or at most at two runner ends at a 90 ° orientation of the landing gear for longitudinal and / or transverse guidance, until the longitudinal and / or transverse guide is merged and all 4 runner ends fixed. On the longitudinal and / or transverse guide, so-called "arrows or triangles" are preferably arranged, for example two, whereby the transport device is automatically rotatable by a mechanical solution in one of the four 90 ° directions (90 180 270 360 °) In a further embodiment, the payload container has a nose bearing at its first end and the loading opening has a nose contour corresponding to the nose bearing in conjunction with two supports Nose bearings on one side vertical and on both sides horizontal forces are aufhehmbar and can be done by the supports vertical support in the opposite direction by such a configuration can be achieved on the one hand, that the payload container when swinging into the loading opening particularly accurately positioned at such fixi and on the other hand the payload container is fixed to the transport device in a secure and reliable manner during transport by the transport device.

According to a preferred embodiment, the pivoting takes place at an angle of> 5 ° and <50 °, preferably> 10 ° and <30 ° and most preferably by an angle of 12 °. It has been found experimentally that the previously described positive fit can be maintained over an angle of rotation of approximately 12 °, whereby the loading of the transport device with the payload container is designed to be particularly simple.

For the design of the payload container exist basically different ways. According to a particularly preferred embodiment, however, it is provided that the payload container has a battery for a power supply of the unmanned transport device and the receptacle has a device for charging the battery. In addition to the shipment, the battery for the power supply of the transport device is thus provided in the payload container, for example an accumulator or the like. The charging of the battery, for example, take place in the storage position, so that after replacing the payload container, the transport device can fly directly with a charged battery. The electrical connection between see battery and transport device is preferably carried out by the previously described connector. In addition to charging the battery, a continuous monitoring of the voltage can take place. In addition, an automatic battery replacement of the batteries take place. Such a payload would be given, which is loaded with shipments and batteries, for example via conveyor belts, before the entire payload container is loaded into the transport device.

The payload container is preferably designed on its outer side with a shell element such that a seal in the manner of a labyrinthine principle is formed by the shell element with the payload container completely inserted into the loading opening, and penetrating water is removed from an outer shell of the payload container. The battery, including the cabling required for this purpose, towards the plug is preferably protected against splash water. The object of the invention is also achieved by a receptacle, set up for carrying out the method described above and configured as a mailbox, parcel box, parcel mailbox and / or packing station for receiving the shipment and / or as mobile variants such as trucks, swap body or ship. On a housing of the payload container, the aforementioned door opening is preferably prescribed by which a user has access to the loading module for removing and / or loading the payload container with the shipment.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings with reference to a preferred embodiment.

Show it:

1 shows an interior of a receptacle in a schematic view according to a preferred embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 2 shows a payload container in a schematic view according to the preferred

Embodiment of the invention,

3 shows a loading device with a payload container and transport device in a schematic view according to the preferred embodiment of the invention,

4 is another view of FIG. 3,

5 shows a plug connection between payload container and transport device in a schematic view according to the preferred embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 6 is a closable opening in the receptacle of FIG. 1, the charging device of FIG. 3 in a further view, and 8 is a plan view of the receptacle of FIG. 1

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an interior of a receptacle designed as a parcel station. FIG. On a landing platform 2 of the receiving container 1 an unmanned transport device 3 landed. The unmanned transport device 3 is designed as a self-controlling drone, in this case called Paketkopter executed and has a drive to a shipment 4, shown in Fig. 2, to be transported from the receptacle 2 to a receiver, not shown. On the underside 5 of the transport device, a loading opening 6 is provided into which a payload container 7 for the shipment 4 can be inserted. To insert the payload container 7 into the loading opening 6 or to remove the payload container 7 from the loading opening 6, a loading device 8, also called loading manipulator, is provided in the receiving container 1.

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the payload container 7, which has a rectangular shape in plan view. At a first transverse end 8a, two mutually spaced supports 9 are provided, which extend in the longitudinal extension of the payload container 7 parallel to each other from the payload container 7 away. In the middle between the two supports 9, a nose bearing 10 is arranged on the first side 8a of the payload container 7 and two first plugs 11, which in the present case are in the form of a fourteen-pole socket and a twenty-pole socket. Towards the upper shell 12 of the payload container 7 is spaced from the supports 9 on the upper of the two first plug 11, a pin plate 13 is provided, the pin extends perpendicular to the direction of insertion of the first plug 1 1 from the supports 9 away. For loading the transport device 3 with the payload container 7, the loading device 8 pivots the payload container 7 relative to the horizontal into the position shown in FIG. 1, so that the first end 8a is raised relative to a second, opposite end 14. For pivoting, the charging device 8 has a tilting cylinder 15. The loading device 8 located below the loading opening 6 then moves, as indicated by arrow 16, in the direction of the transport device 9 until, as shown in FIG. 3, pins 17 provided on the loading device 8 engage in corresponding bushings 18 of the transport device 3. At the loading device 8 corresponding to the first end 8a as well as to the second end 14 are in each case two be spaced mandrels 17 are provided, which engage in corresponding sockets 18 on the underside 5 of the transport device 3.

After the loading device 8 is fixed to the transport device 3, the payload container 7, which already partially reaches into the loading opening 6 by lifting at its first end 8a, is pivoted into the horizontal. By pivoting the support 9 first comes into touching engagement with a counter contour 20 corresponding to a front end of the loading opening 8 corresponding to the support 9. Corresponding to the nose bearing 10, a nose contour 21 is formed at the front end 19 of the loading opening 6 the nose bearing 10 touchingly engages.

The bearings 9, 10 and the corresponding contours 20, 21 are designed such that over a rotational angle of about 12 ° a positive connection between the payload container 7 and loading port 6 is maintained until that after complete pivoting of the payload container 7 in the horizontal second end 14 of the payload container is in touching engagement with a rear end 22 of the loading opening 6. In this way, the payload container 7 is completely and positively received in the loading opening 6, as shown in FIG. 4. The payload container 7 is thus not pivoted in a purely linear movement, but via a trained at the first end 8a and the front end 9 axis of rotation in the loading opening 6.

For locking the payload container 7 with the transport device 3, a locking device 22 is provided at the second end 14. For actuating the locking device 22, the charging device has an actuator 23, which engages via a tool in the locking device 22 and by means of a rotary movement, the second end 14 of the payload container 7 at the rear end 22 of the loading opening locked with this.

Corresponding to the first plug 11, a second plug 24 is arranged at the front end 19 in the loading opening 6 such that the first plug 11 is inserted into the second plug 24 by pivoting the payload container 7 into the horizontal. In order to compensate for tolerances between the payload container 7 and the loading opening 6, the second plug 24 is mounted floating on the loading opening 6 in such a way, that the second connector 24 is mounted in the plugging direction rigid and orthogonal to the insertion direction elastic. Corresponding to the pin plate 13, a pin receptacle 25 is arranged on the second plug 24, which initially "catches" the pin when pivoting the payload container 7 into the horizontal, in order then to guide the pin in order to position the plugs 11, 24 with respect to each other. So that the first plug 11 is particularly easy to insert into the second plug 24, the second plug 24 is angled relative to the horizontal by 5 °.

The unloading of a payload container 7 from a transport device 3 sent to the receiving container 1 takes place analogously. First, the charging device 7 is raised until it comes to lie below the loading opening 6 touching the payload container 7 touching. Then, by means of the actuator 23, the locking device 22a is unlocked. Then the payload container 7 is pivoted relative to the horizontal such that the second end 14 is lowered relative to the first end 8a until the support 9 no longer engages touching into the mating contour 20. The resting on the loading device 8 payload container 9 is then lowered relative to the transport device 3 into the receptacle 1 in through the charging device 8 and finally pivoted to the horizontal. The loading device 8 conveys the payload container 7 with consignment 4 arranged therein to a loading module 26, shown in FIG. 6, which is arranged on an outer wall of the receiving container 1. In the outer wall, a closable opening 27 is provided, through which an operator can reach into the receptacle 1 and thus remove the consignment 4 (not shown in FIG. 6) from the payload receptacle 7. It is also possible to insert a new shipment 4 in the payload container 7.

By means of the loading device 8 shown in a further view in FIG. 7, the payload container 7 can also be placed inside the receiving container 1 at a plurality of storage positions in which empty payload containers 7 or payload containers 7 already loaded with a consignment 4 can be temporarily stored. Thus, payload containers 7 can be loaded successively with shipments 4 or transported by transport devices 3 away from the receiving container 1. In order to enable a positionally accurate fixing of the landed on the receptacle 1 transport device 3, longitudinal and / or transverse guides 28 are provided, by means of which the transport device 3 above the loading device 8 can be aligned, as shown in Fig. 8 in plan view. Above the landing platform 2, a hatch 29 is provided on the receptacle 1, which can be opened or closed for landing or flying away of the transport device 3 to or from the receptacle 1.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

Storage container 1

Landing platform 2

Unmanned transport device 3

Shipment 4

Bottom 5

Loading opening 6

Payload container 7

Charging device 8

First end 8a

Support 9

Nose bearing 10

First plug 1 1

Upper shell 12

Pin plate 13

Second end 14

Tilting cylinder 15

Arrow 16

Thorn 17

Socket 18

Front end 19

Counter contour 20

Nose Contour 21

Rear end 22

Locking device 22a

Actuator 23

Second plug 24

Spigot receptacle 25

Charging module 26

Opening 27

Longitudinal and / or transverse guide 28

Luke 29

Claims

claims

1. A method for loading an unmanned transport device (3) landed on a receiving container (1) with a payload container (7) for a consignment (4), with a loading device (8) for loading the transport device (3) with the payload container (7). wherein the payload container (7) at its first end (8 a) has a support (9), the transport device (3) on its underside (5) has a loading opening (6) for receiving the payload container (7), and the loading opening (6) has at its front end (19) a mating contour (20) corresponding to the support (9), and the method comprises the steps of:

Pivoting of the payload container (7) arranged on the loading device (8) relative to the horizontal by the loading device (8) such that the first end (8a) is raised relative to a second, opposite end (14) of the payload container (7),

Lifting the loading device (8) until the payload container (7) comes to rest at least with its first end (8a) inside and / or below the loading opening (6), and

Pivoting the payload container (7) through the loading device (8) in the horizontal for insertion into the loading opening (6) such that first the support (9) engages with the mating contour (20) and then the second end (14) of Payload container (7) into engagement with a rear end (22) of the loading opening (6) passes.

2. Method according to the preceding claim, with the step:

after insertion of the payload container (7) into the loading opening (6), locking of the second end of the payload container (7) with the transport device (3) by the loading device (8), the locking in particular by means of turning one at the second end the payload container (7) s arranged Verrieglungseinrichtung takes place, and / or

after inserting the payload container (7) into the loading opening (6), lowering the loading device (8) until the loading device (8) is arranged inside the receiving container (1).

3. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the payload container (7) and / or the loading opening (6) is designed such that during pivoting in the horizontal and / or in the horizontal at least the first end (8a) of Payload container (7) s form fit at least the front end (19) of the loading opening (6).

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the loading device (8) corresponding to the first end (8a) and / or to the second end (14) of the payload container (7) has a mandrel (17), the transport device (3) at the front end (19) and / or at the rear end (22) has a bushing (18) corresponding to the respective mandrel (17), and the loading device (8) is raised until the mandrel (17 ) engages in the socket (18).

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the Nutzlastbehäl- ter (7) at its first end (8a) arranged in such a first connector (11) and the

Loading opening (6) at its front end (19) corresponding to the first connector (11) arranged second connector (24), that by pivoting the payload container (7) in the horizontal, the plugs (11, 24) are interconnected ,

6. The method according to the preceding claim, wherein the second plug (24) is mounted floating on the loading opening (6), that the second plug (24) is mounted in the plugging direction rigid and orthogonal to the insertion direction elastic.

7. The method according to any one of the two preceding claims, wherein the first plug (11) has a pin plate (13) designed in this way and the second plug (24) has a pin receptacle (25) designed in such a way that by pivoting the payload container (7) into the Horizontal of the pin through the pin receptacle (25) is guided such that initially reduces a tolerance between the plugs (11, 24) and then a positionally accurate alignment of the plug (11, 24) takes place to each other.

8. A method for unloading a to a receptacle (1) landed unmanned transport device (3) with a payload container (7) for a consignment (4), with a loading device (8) for unloading the payload container (7) from the transport device (3), the payload container (7) having at its first end (8a) a support (9), the transport device (3) on its underside (5 ) has a loading opening (6), in which the payload container (7) is arranged, and the loading opening (6) at its front end (19) to the support (9) corresponding counter contour (20) into which the support ( 9), and the method comprises the steps of:

Lifting the loading device (8) until the loading device (8) comes to lie below the loading opening (6) on the payload container (7),

Unlocking the payload container (7) at a second, opposite end (14) thereof,

Pivoting the payload container (7) relative to the horizontal by the loading device (8) such that the second end (14) relative to the first end (8a) of the payload container (7) is lowered until the support (9) no longer in the Counter contour (20) engages,

Lowering of the payload container (7) relative to the transport device (3) by the charging device (8), and

Pivoting the payload container (7) in the horizontal by the charging device (8).

9. The method of one of the preceding claims, wherein the loading device (8) a tilt cylinder (15) for pivoting the payload container (7) and / or an actuator (23) for unlocking and / or locking the payload container (7) and / or the transport device (3).

10. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, with the steps:

Removing and / or parking the payload container (7) from and / or in a storage position and / or a loading module (26) by the loading device (8),

Opening and / or closing a hatch (29) on a landing platform (2) of the receptacle (1) for landing the transport device (3) on the receptacle (1), and / or

Positionally accurate fixing of the landed unmanned transport device (3) on the receptacle (1), in particular by a longitudinal and / or transverse guide (28).

11. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the payload container (7) at its first end (8a) has a nose bearing (10) and the loading opening (6) at its front end (19) to the nose bearing (10) corresponding Nasenkon - tur (21).

12. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pivoting by an angle of> 5 ° and <50 °, in particular by an angle of 12 °.

13. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the payload container (7) has a battery (X) for a power supply of the unmanned transport device (3) and the receptacle (1) comprises means for charging the battery (X).

14. receptacle (1), adapted for performing a method according to any one of the preceding claims and designed as a mailbox, as a parcel box and / or as a packing station for receiving the shipment (4).